General Assembly and Governor Complete Work on State Budgets

A lengthy process of developing budget revisions for FY 2024 and a new budget for the upcoming biennium concluded on May 13 with the legislature’s overwhelming passage of new “caboose” and biennium spending bills, followed promptly by the Governor signing both bills into law.  The approved spending plans remove the sales tax policy changes included in the budget passed by the legislature in March, instead directing the Joint Subcommittee on Tax Policy to “explore efforts to modernize the Commonwealth’s income and sales and use taxes during the 2024 interim,” to include examining long-term revenue growth and the state’s ability to sustain core government services.  The approved budgets retain most of the provisions from the March budget; the budgets use several savings and revenue actions to bridge the gap created by removing the additional revenue that would have been generated by the sales tax base expansion approved in March, including:

• Assuming an increase to the FY 2024 revenue forecast of $525 million, based on higher-than-anticipated collections thus far;
• Capturing savings associated with appropriations to fund legislation that was vetoed;
• Replacing $516 million in cash for capital projects with debt;
• Reducing the amount set aside in a reserve fund to address unanticipated Medicaid costs;
• Capturing savings associated with nonparticipation rates in the Virginia Preschool Initiative; and
• Recognizing an additional $25 million in FY 2024 Lottery revenues.

Summary tables with estimated distributions of direct aid for K-12 are available on the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee websites (at this link); the House Appropriations Committee staff briefing is available at this link and the Senate Finance and Appropriations staff briefing is available at this link.  Spreadsheets capturing the approved budgets’ changes relative to the budgets that were passed in March are available at this link and this link, for the caboose and biennium budgets, respectively.

Following is an update on the final disposition of key items of interest to local governments.

K-12 Education:  Restoration of Hold-Harmless for Elimination of State Portion of Grocery Tax

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): When the state portion of the sales and use tax on groceries was eliminated in 2022, statutory language required funding to be provided to compensate school divisions for the lost revenue associated with the elimination of the portion of the grocery tax that was distributed to school divisions based on school-age population. The Governor’s introduced budget failed to include this funding; restoring the funding was VACo’s top budget priority.  The enrolled budget includes $243 million over the biennium to restore the hold-harmless payments. (Item 125 #10c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill.  Maintains hold-harmless payments.
  • May 13 approved budget: No change to enrolled bill.  Maintains hold-harmless payments.

K-12 Education:  Support Cap

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Does not include full elimination of the support cap; retains current staffing standard of 24 support positions per 1,000 ADM, as funded in the budget approved in September 2023 (Chapter 1).
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled; retains current staffing standard.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled; retains current staffing standard.

K-12 Education:  Teacher Retirement

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Includes $150 million from the General Fund (GF) in FY 2026 to reverse the proposed use of Literary Fund dollars for teacher retirement contributions in the second year in the introduced budget (retains use of Literary Fund dollars in FY 2025). (Item 125 #13c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Returns to approach in December 2023 introduced budget of using $150 million from the Literary Fund in each year. (Amendment 59)
  • May 13 approved budget: Uses Literary Fund dollars for teacher retirement contributions in FY 2026 rather than FY 2025.  Uses General Funds in FY 2025.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates the introduced budget’s proposed FY 2025 deposit of $350 million ($115 million GF and $235 million from the Literary Fund) to the VRS teacher retirement fund. (Item 125 #17c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

K-12 Education:  School Capital

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Authorizes the Department of Education to offer up to $250 million in school construction loans from the Literary Fund over the biennium. (Item 125 #5c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Authorizes $175 million in loans in FY 2025.  (Amendment 59)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains funding levels in enrolled bill ($250 million over the biennium).

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Maintains introduced budget’s appropriation of $80 million per year to the School Construction Assistance Program from casino gaming proceeds.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

K-12 Education:  At-Risk Add-On

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $186.7 million in FY 2025 and $184.6 million in FY 2026 to consolidate the SOQ Prevention, Intervention, and Remediation and At-Risk Add-On programs into one At-Risk Add-On program; use federal Identified Student Percentage rates rather than federal free-lunch rates to estimate the number of At-Risk students (with a multiplier of 1.25, plus one-quarter of English learner students); distribute an 11 percent basic aid add-on per estimated at-risk student; and provide an add-on percentage ranging from 0 to 37 percent, depending on each school division’s relative concentration of at-risk students. This amendment is derived from JLARC’s K-12 funding study.  (Item 125 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Reduces funding levels proposed in the enrolled budget by $82.9 million in FY 2025 and $79.1 million in FY 2026.  Reinstates the SOQ Prevention, Intervention, and Remediation program as a separate program.  Provides a 5 percent basic aid add-on per at-risk student and a maximum additional add-on percentage from 0 to 35.5 percent per student.  Directs a study of the effects of transitioning the at-risk proxy from federal free-lunch rates to the federal Identified Student Percentage rates and the effects of eliminating the SOQ Prevention, Intervention, and Remediation program as a stand-alone program.  (Amendment 56)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains actions and funding level from enrolled bill.

K-12 Education:  English Learners

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $37.9 million in FY 2025 and $34.2 million in FY 2026 for the state’s share of additional English Learner teachers, based on student proficiency. Language allows for staffing in the first year to equate to the number of teachers required during the 2023-2024 school year, plus one-half of the additional positions that would otherwise be required.  (Item 125 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Reduces the additional funding proposed in the enrolled budget by $25.9 million in FY 2025 and $21.1 million in FY 2026; funds staff at a ratio of 22 instructional positions per 1000 English language learner students.  Directs collection of data on student proficiency levels and English learner expenditures and directs the Department of Education to provide recommendations to the Joint Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education for alternative staffing ratios.  (Amendment 57)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains language and funding level from enrolled bill.

K-12 Education:  School-Based Mental Health

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates the $7.2 million proposed in the introduced budget for the Department of Education to contract with a telehealth provider for mental health care services for students in grades 6-12; includes language directing the Superintendent of Public Instruction to enter into a statewide contract with one or more telehealth providers to provide mental health care to public school students and authorizing school divisions to purchase services from this contract. Also eliminates proposed funding ($200,000 per year) for a new Chief School Mental Health Officer position.  (Item 117 #1c, Item 123 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs the Department of Education to work with DBHDS and the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) on a plan for a new program to deliver flexible mental health funding to school divisions. This amendment is a recommendation from the Behavioral Health Commission’s study of school-based mental health services.  (Item 117 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Specifies that the $15 million per year in the introduced budget for technical assistance to school divisions for the implementation and expansion of school-based mental health services is to be used to provide grants to contract with federally qualified health centers or other health care organizations to establish school-based health clinics to provide mental health services and primary medical care to students and their families, as well as school staff. (Item 295 #10c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Revises language specifying use of funding; requires funds to be used for technical assistance to school divisions seeking guidance on the implementation and expansion of school-based mental health services; technical assistance to school divisions for reimbursement from Medicaid and other insurers; and grants to school divisions to contract for community-based mental health services for students.  Earmarks $500,000 in FY 2025 for a statewide evaluation of school-based mental health services.  (Amendment 125)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains provisions from enrolled bill.

K-12:  Additional Items

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains amounts for rebenchmarking and technical updates from the introduced budget; incorporates several smaller additional technical updates that total a reduction of $1.9 million per year. Rebenchmarking costs total $969 million over the biennium.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Reflects an additional $23.7 million in FY 2025 and $59.2 million in FY 2026 (on top of the $23.9 million in FY 2025 and $61.8 million in FY 2026 in the introduced budget) for the net revenue impact for K-12 of the expansion of the sales tax base to certain digital products and services, as proposed in the introduced budget and expanded further in the conference report to apply to certain business-to-business transactions. (Item 125 #9c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Captures savings to reflect the Governor’s proposed elimination of the sales tax base expansion ($47.6 million in FY 2025 and $121.1 million in FY 2026) (Amendment 60)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Eliminates additional revenue associated with sales tax policy changes, which were not included in the approved budget. 

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Recognizes an additional $25 million in Lottery proceeds in FY 2025 (replacing a like amount of General Funds). (Item 125 #22c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains enrolled bill’s provisions and recognizes an additional $25 million in Lottery proceeds in FY 2025.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains the $30 million in FY 2025 and $30.1 million in FY 2026 included in the introduced budget for the state share of reading specialist positions in accordance with legislation passed in 2023. Provides an additional $5.7 million in FY 2025 and $3.7 million in FY 2026 in net increases for literacy screening, coaching, technical assistance, and professional development.  (Item 117 #6c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to reading specialist funding.  Reduces additional funding proposed for literacy screening by $1.5 million per year (Amendment 44)
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to reading specialist funding.  Adopts Governor’s amendment to reduce literacy screening funding by $1.5 million per year.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $100,000 in FY 2025 to the Commission on Youth for a review of the state’s special education dispute resolution system. (Item 22 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates proposed $30 million per year for the College Partnership Lab Schools Fund and reinserts language defining a college partnership laboratory school as a public four-year institution; language in the caboose transfers $85 million in unobligated balances from the College Partnership Lab Schools Fund to the General Fund. (Item 125 #18c, Item 3-1.01 #4c in the caboose)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Reverses the transfer of $85 million in College Partnership Lab School Fund balances to the General Fund in the caboose; removes language defining a college partnership laboratory school as a public four-year institution.  Does not reinstate the $30 million removed from the biennium budget in the enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  Reduces transfer of College Partnership Lab School Fund balances in the caboose from $85 million to $25 million.  Maintains provisions in the enrolled biennium budget eliminating proposed new funding and reinserting language defining a college partnership laboratory school; adds language in the caboose and biennium budgets outlining a process for ineligible institutions to partners with eligible institutions and requiring that college partnership laboratory schools reach financial sustainability by the end of their initial approval period.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates the $20 million per year proposed in the introduced budget for the new Diploma Plus program, which would provide grants to high school students to support attainment of high-demand industry-recognized credentials. (Item 125 #16c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates $1.7 million in FY 2025 and $1.6 million in FY 2026 proposed in the introduced budget to eliminate the cap on supplemental basic aid payments. (Item 125 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs the Superintendent of Public Instruction to enter into a statewide contract for assistance to school divisions with outreach and support for disengaged, chronically absent, or struggling students. (Item 117 #7c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates this requirement.  (Amendment 43)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains provisions in enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $2.2 million per year for regional special education family support centers, professional development, and special education coaching. (Item 118 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Restores $1.9 million per year that was proposed to be eliminated in the introduced budget for the Office of School Quality. (Item 120 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $300,000 per year to support the Joint Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education Funding. (Item 123 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Removes funding (Amendment 47)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains funding level in enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides an additional $950,000 per year, in addition to the $800,000 per year in the introduced budget, for supplemental support for Accomack and Northampton County school divisions for teacher recruitment and retention efforts. (Item 125 #19c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

Compensation:  K-12 Instructional and Support Positions

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): The Governor’s December 2023 introduced budget had proposed the state’s share of a 1 percent bonus payment, effective July 1, 2024, and the state’s share of a 2 percent salary increase, effective July 1, 2025. The enrolled bill instead provides for the state’s share of a 3 percent salary increase in each year for SOQ-recognized instructional and support positions, effective July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025.  A local match is required.  The state’s share will be pro-rated for divisions providing less than an average 3 percent increase, but in order to draw down the state funds, school divisions must provide at least an average 1.5 percent increase in the first year, and at least an additional average 1.5 percent increase in the second year.  School divisions providing an average increase of more than 3 percent in the first year can credit the excess portion of the increase toward the second year.  (Item 125 #11c, Item 125 #15c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates language in the introduced budget that directed the Secretary of Education to convene a stakeholder workgroup to make recommendations on the implementation of a teacher compensation model based on the Competitive Teacher Pay Report from 2023. (Item 116 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

Compensation:  State and State-Supported Local Employees

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): The Governor’s December 2023 introduced budget had proposed a 1 percent bonus payment on December 1, 2024, a 1 percent salary increase on July 1, 2025, and another 1 percent bonus payment on December 1, 2025. The enrolled bill instead provides for a 3 percent salary increase in each year of the biennium, effective July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025.  (Item 469 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Includes language providing for a one-time bonus payment of 1.375 percent on December 1, 2025, for state and state-supported local employees, if the legislation increasing the minimum wage does not take effect. (If the legislation does take effect, this amendment provides funding for the Compensation Board to address impacts of the minimum wage increase on Constitutional offices, as well as funding for rate increases for certain Medicaid providers.)  (Item 469 #6c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Removes these provisions (Amendment 186)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Removes these provisions.

Judiciary/Public Safety:  Compensation for Court-Appointed Counsel

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $6.5 million in FY 2025 and $13 million in FY 2026 to increase compensation for court-appointed counsel in accordance with legislation passed in 2024 (HB 102 (Reaser) and SB 356 (Perry)) (Item 33 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

Judiciary/Public Safety:  Aid to Localities with Police Departments (“HB 599”)

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides an increase of $10 million per year for the HB 599 program. (Item 396 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

Judiciary/Public Safety – Fire and EMS Funding

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to assess the sufficiency of fire and emergency medical services funding in the Commonwealth. VACo is named as a participant in the stakeholder group that is directed to be convened as part of the review.  Provides $150,000 in FY 2025 for procurement of technical expertise to complete the review.  (Item 377 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

Judiciary/Public Safety – Juvenile Justice

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains the provision in the introduced budget to extend the moratorium on additional state funds for construction or renovation of local or regional detention centers, group homes, or related facilities (with exceptions for emergency maintenance projects) until June 30, 2026.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to evaluate its rehabilitative programming to ensure programs align with evidence-based practices and that the Department has sufficient staffing to support this programming. (Item 414 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs the Virginia State Crime Commission to study juvenile restitution practices in Virginia. (Item 23 #1c).
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  Directs the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court to contract with the National Center for State Courts to conduct the study instead of the Crime Commission and provides $75,000 in FY 2025 for this purpose.

Judiciary/Public Safety – Other Items

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs the Secretary of Public Safety to evaluate the establishment of statutory authority for local civilian-led units to handle calls for services related to minor traffic accidents and other duties as assigned. Budget language calls for VACo’s assistance in developing the report, along with the participation of VML, the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, and other appropriate stakeholders.  (Item 377 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Authorizes the Virginia State Crime Commission to access records and facilities of state entities and political subdivisions in order to carry out its duties. (Item 23 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Narrows language to specify that the Crime Commission would have access to criminal justice-related data from state agencies and political subdivisions, and access to state correctional facilities with reasonable notice.  Stipulates that the Crime Commission would not have access to criminal investigative files and other information prohibited for dissemination by statute.  (Amendment 10)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Reverts to language from the enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $46,000 in FY 2025 for the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court to contract with the National Center for State Courts and collaborate with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to study existing statewide jail diversion programs and initiatives for individuals with a serious mental illness, and the feasibility of implementing an expedited process to divert individuals with a serious mental illness to court-supervised mental health treatment. (Item 31 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Reduces the proposed increase for specialty dockets in the introduced budget by $750,000 in FY 2026 (leaving an increase of $750,000 per year). (Item 31 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Captures savings from proposed closures of Department of Corrections facilities, as proposed in the introduced budget; also includes language directing the Department of Corrections to assess its use of staffing posts and facility space in light of lower inmate populations. (Item 390 #7c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates the $500,000 that was included in the introduced budget for Sussex County to offset costs of providing emergency medical transport for inmates at Sussex State Prison. (Item 390 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Restores $300,000 per year for Sussex County emergency medical services costs (Amendment 176)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains action from enrolled bill to eliminate funding.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to convene a workgroup to make recommendations on requiring a local court-appointed special advocate program to be available in every judicial district. (Item 394 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Reduces funding for the Operation Ceasefire Grant Fund by $7.5 million per year (leaving $10 million per year available for use); bars funding from being provided to state agencies and bars grant funding for law enforcement equipment, with the exception of forensic and analytical equipment. (Item 394 #6c, Item 394 #5c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Reduces funding for School Resource Officer Incentive Grants by $4.1 million in FY 2025 and $6.8 million in FY 2026 (the introduced budget included funding levels of $27.2 million per year for the program). Eliminates language that would have waived matching requirements in FY 2025.  Explanatory information provided with the amendment indicates that this action would leave $4.7 million available for new grants each year, as well as reflecting ongoing grant obligations, and would align with FY 2024 spending.  (Item 394 #13c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Restores $2 million in FY 2025 and $3.4 million in FY 2025 for School Resource Officer Incentive Grants (Amendment 175)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains spending levels in the enrolled bill ($23.1 million GF in FY 2025 and $20.4 million GF in FY 2026).

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates the $18 million in the introduced budget that was proposed as a one-time appropriation to support efforts to fill persistent vacancies in law enforcement agencies. (Item 396 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains the additional $7.2 million over the biennium provided for the Victim-Witness Grant Program in the introduced budget and provides an additional $1.3 million per year. (Item 394 #15c)  Retains the additional $3.5 million in FY 2026 provided for sexual assault crisis centers and domestic violence programs in the introduced budget and provides an additional $2.1 million per year to return grantees to FY 2023 levels.  (Item 394 #16c).  Provides $1.5 million in FY 2025 and $2.5 million in FY 2026 for the Victim Services Grant Program to offset expected declines in federal funding.  (Item 394 #17c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Retains the additional funding for the Victim-Witness Grant Program, sexual assault crisis centers and domestic violence programs.  Eliminates the additional $1.5 million in FY 2025 and $2.5 million in FY 2026 for the Victim Services Grant Program.  (Amendment 174)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains funding levels in the enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains the additional $2 million in FY 2025 proposed in the introduced budget for grants to combat hate crimes; adds language directing DCJS to disseminate information to stakeholders about the grant opportunity and allowing localities in partnerships with institutions or nonprofits that have been targets of hate crimes, or are at risk of being targets, to be eligible to apply (the introduced budget language limits eligibility to these institutions or nonprofits). (Item 394 #19c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates language allowing localities in partnerships with institutions or nonprofits to apply for grant funding.  (Amendment 171)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains language from enrolled bill.

Administration:  Compensation Board – Constitutional Officers

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs the Compensation Board to report on the allocation and effectiveness of funds from 2022 to increase compensation for sworn officers in sheriffs’ offices, as well as on retention for deputies with law enforcement duties compared to deputies without law enforcement duties, including information on local salary supplements. (Item 60 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $752,147 in FY 2025 and $828,042 in FY 2026 for 18 paralegal positions in Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ offices. (Item 64 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Retains paralegal funding and adds $1.5 million in FY 2025 and $1.6 million in FY 2026 from funding redirected from the Safer Communities program for an additional 29 assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys positions.  (Amendment 16, Amendment 17, Amendment 173)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains paralegal funding and adds $2.2 million in FY 2025 and $2.5 million in FY 2026 for an additional 29 assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys positions.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Allows the Compensation Board to take into account the staffing capacity of a circuit court clerk’s office when determining whether or not to withhold statewide salary increases from Circuit Court Clerks who fail to take corrective action for any internal control matters identified by the Auditor of Public Accounts. Under current budget language, the Compensation Board must withhold salary increases from a Clerk in these circumstances.  (Item 65 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Extends the validity of subdivision plats that were unable to be recorded prior to the commencement of the 2020 judicial emergency to December 31, 2024. (Item 65 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs a study of staffing standards for Circuit Court Clerks and provides $400,000 in FY 2025 for a contract with the National Center for State Courts for a time study as to Clerks’ duties. (Item 67 #1c)
  • Governor’s April  amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains provisions in the introduced budget moving $9.4 million in projected vacancy savings in FY 2025 to a reserve fund to be used in FY 2026 to reimburse expenses incurred within established budgets for Constitutional officers if vacancy levels are reduced and vacant positions are filled.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains provisions in the introduced budget providing $159,889 per year to adjust the salaries of Constitutional officers whose localities met a population-based threshold.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $185,234 in FY 2025 and $1 million in FY 2026 to account for the impact of increases to the minimum wage provided in legislation that has passed the General Assembly, contingent on the legislation taking effect. Contingency language in Central Appropriations discussed in the Compensation section above provides for bonuses for state employees and state-supported local employees in the event the minimum wage increases do not take effect.  (Item 469 #6c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates these provisions (Amendment 186)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Eliminates these provisions.

Administration:  Compensation Board – Jails

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Transfers proposed $500,000 in FY 2025 from opioid settlement funding for jail-based substance use treatment from the Compensation Board into the Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Transition Fund, which is administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, and increases the funding level to $2 million. VACo supported the creation of this Fund in 2023.  (Item 60 #3c and Item 394 #11c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains provisions in the introduced budget capturing $15 million per year (in FY 2024, FY 2025, and FY 2026) in per diem payment savings based on inmate population reductions and projected growth in jail populations over the next biennium.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains $32,401 in FY 2025 in the introduced budget for the state’s share of improvements to the Franklin County jail; adds language revising the process for review of local or regional jail capital projects to which the state provides funding. (Item 385 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

Administration:  Elections

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Redirects $2.8 million in ARPA funds to the Department of Elections to assist localities in implementing electronic pollbooks and ballot-on-demand systems. These funds were originally provided to the Department of Social Services for Medicaid eligibility redeterminations.  The Department of Elections will develop a process for distributing these funds.  (Item 486 #4c in the caboose)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides three additional days for local electoral boards to certify election results after the November 2024 election and provides that a risk-limiting audit for the Presidential election will not be conducted. (Item 77 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates these provisions.  (Amendment 26)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains provisions in enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $200,000 in FY 2025 for the costs of a required mailing to eligible but unregistered voters, which would enable Virginia to rejoin the Electronic Registration Information Center, as required by companion bills passed this session. The Governor has vetoed these bills.  (Item 77 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates this funding (Amendment 25)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Eliminates this funding.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains proposed funding in the introduced budget for a list maintenance position ($148,991 in FY 2025 and $161,397 in FY 2026).
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

Agriculture and Forestry

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains proposed $437,500 reduction to the deposit to the Farmland Preservation Fund in each year (relative to funding levels in the budget passed in September 2023), as included in the introduced budget. Transfers the Office of Farmland Preservation from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) to the Department of Forestry.  (Item 86 #1c and Item 96 #4c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides for a deposit of $1 million to the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund in FY 2025 (rather than $2 million, as proposed in the introduced budget). (Item 87 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates the $2 million in FY 2025 in the introduced budget that was proposed for a competitive grant program for agricultural technology research projects. (Item 87 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $250,000 in FY 2026 for the Blue Catfish Processing, Flash Freezing, and Infrastructure Grant Program to level-fund the program in the second year. (Item 87 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $292,525 per year for the cooperative agreement between VDACS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for technical assistance to landowners with wildlife depredation under the Wildlife Damage Cooperative Program. (Item 88 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains the $266,130 per year from the General Fund, along with matching non-general funds, included in the introduced budget for inspectors at slaughter and meat processing facilities. Also provides $25,000 per year for the Virginia Verified Meat certification process established in 2024 legislation.  (Item 86 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $2.5 million in FY 2025 for the Forest Sustainability Fund. (Item 96 #5c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

Agriculture and Forestry/Natural and Historic Resources – Invasive Species Management

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Includes a series of amendments providing funding for invasive species management: $485,000 per year for VDACS (Item 88 #1c); $940,000/year for the Department of Forestry (Item 96 #2c); $250,000 per year for the Department of Conservation and Recreation (Item 360 #1c); and $775,000 per year for the Department of Wildlife Resources.  (Item 367 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates this funding (Amendment 27, Amendment 29, Amendment 147, Amendment 153)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains funding levels in the enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $500,000 in FY 2025 for cyanobacteria mitigation and remediation at Lake Anna and $150,000 in FY 2025 for the Department of Environmental Quality to conduct a study of harmful algal blooms at Smith Mountain Lake. (Item 359 #5c and Item 363 #7c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

Economic Development:  Business Sites

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Reduces funding levels for the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program from $150 million in FY 2025 and $50 million in FY 2026, as proposed in the introduced budget, to $20 million per year. (Item 101 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Provides an additional $50 million in FY 2025 (Amendment 30)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains funding levels in the enrolled bill ($20 million per year).

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Adjusts eligibility criteria for the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program to allow sites of at least 50 acres to qualify (current budget language allows these sites to qualify only in certain regions), as well as sites that may be bisected by a roadway or other utility related infrastructure. (Item 101 #8c and Item 101 #10c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates proposed $25 million for the Business Ready Sites Acquisition Fund in FY 2025 included in the introduced budget. (Item 101 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

Economic Development:  Inland Port

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates the proposed $10 million in FY 2025 in the introduced budget for the development of an inland port in the Mount Rogers Planning District; provides $2.5 million in FY 2026. (Item 101 #11c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

Broadband

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to add layers to the state’s broadband map to reflect broadband availability on prime farmland and in rural areas. (Item 103 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Includes language requiring DHCD to provide a reason for a project’s delay when reporting on Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) projects at risk for incompletion or underperformance; requires quarterly (rather than annual) performance reports on VATI grant projects. (Item 103 #8c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $10 million per year for base funding for VATI (the introduced budget proposed $20 million in FY 2025 and no appropriation in FY 2026). (Item 103 #12c)
  • Governor’s April amendments:  No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $30 million in FY 2025 to supplement current VATI grant projects for “make ready” costs, with funding to be awarded on a competitive basis to projects that are at risk of incompletion by December 31, 2026. (Item 103 #13c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Outlines a process for ARPA-funded projects that are determined by DHCD to be at risk of incompletion; allows units of government to surrender projects, transfer projects, or redesign projects, among other options, in order to ensure that locations are available for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) subgrantee selection process. (Item 115 #1c in the caboose and Item 103 #14c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Outlines uses for BEAD funds. (Item 103 #9c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

Housing

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Deposits an additional $12.5 million per year to the Virginia Housing Trust Fund, for a total deposit of $87.5 million per year (the introduced budget level funds the Trust Fund at $75 million per year). (Item 102 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs $5 million in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) balances to a pilot DHCD program to assist residents of manufactured home parks or nonprofits to acquire the manufactured home parks. (Item 102 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates the pilot program (Amendment 33)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains provisions in enrolled bill establishing pilot program.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs $5 million from RGGI balances for a pilot program to provide down payment assistance. (Item 102 #6c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates the pilot program (Amendment 32)
  • May 13 approved budget: Retains provisions in enrolled bill establishing pilot program.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides an additional $150,000 per year for the Virginia Eviction Reduction Program, which provides grant funding to local and regional eviction prevention programs. (Item 102 #4c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates this funding (Amendment 35)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains funding level in the enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $675,000 per year in formula grants to Continuum of Care lead agencies to enhance capacity to serve Virginians at risk of or experiencing homelessness. (Item 102 #7c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

Community Development

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides an additional $525,000 per year for planning district commission operations (to provide each PDC an additional $25,000 per year.) (Item 103 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides an additional $125,000 in FY 2026 to the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority for telehealth and telemedicine needs in Planning Districts 1 and 2; this action partially restores the introduced budget’s action to reduce supplemental funding for the Lenowisco Planning District Commission and Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission and redirect funds to the Virginia Coalfields Expressway Authority. (Item 103 #4c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Maintains the introduced budget’s addition of $350,000 per year for the Center for Rural Virginia and provides an additional $25,000 per year. (Item 103 #6c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Requires DHCD to develop a public-facing performance dashboard for GO Virginia projects. (Item 103 #7c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Restores $1 million in FY 2025 to the Enterprise Zone grant program (the introduced budget proposed to reduce funding by $1.5 million per year); adds language allowing enterprise zone real property investment grants to be used to support the inclusion of rooftop solar or solar canopies for parking lots as a component of a real property project. (Item 104 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates the additional $1 million in FY 2025; eliminates language regarding inclusion of rooftop solar and solar canopies.  (Amendment 38)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains funding levels and language from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Includes $4 million in FY 2025 in the introduced budget for industrial site revitalization and adds $4 million in FY 2026; earmarks $1.5 million in FY 2025 for a project in Charles City County and $2 million in FY 2026 for a project in the City of Danville. Directs use of funds to support the inclusion of solar panels or solar canopies on parking lots as a component of a real property project.  (Item 103 #10c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Adds $1 million in FY 2025 and eliminates the additional $4 million in FY 2026 from the enrolled bill.  Advances funds for the project in the City of Danville to the first year.  Makes the use of funds for solar panels or solar canopies optional.  Directs use of $5 million in unobligated RGGI balances for the Industrial Revitalization Fund.  (Amendment 37)
  • May 13 approved budget: Maintains funding levels and language from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates the proposed $6 million in FY 2025 in the introduced budget for the Virginia Power Innovation Fund. (Item 110 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs the Department of Energy to pursue federal or other non-general funds for waste coal and garbage of bituminous coal remediation. (Item 108 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

Child Care/Early Childhood

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates $24 million of the proposed $25 million included in the introduced budget for an early learning capital incentives fund. Uses the remaining $1 million for DHCD to enter into an MOU with Reynolds Community College to establish a child care facility for state employees.  (Item 103 #11c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to the elimination of the early learning capital incentives fund.  Eliminates the $1 million for a child care facility for state employees.  (Amendment 36)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains provisions from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates proposed digital wallet platform, capturing the associated $1 million in funding for this initiative. (Item 117 #4c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains actions in the introduced budget to maintain Child Care Subsidy and Mixed Delivery slots after the expiration of federal funding. Provides an additional $116.7 million over the biennium beyond amounts in the introduced budget to maintain co-pay rates for the Child Care Subsidy Program and apply these rates to the Mixed Delivery Program; fund additional Child Care Subsidy Program slots; restore the traditional 20 percent nonparticipation rate for the Virginia Preschool Initiative; and maintain the 0.5000 cap on the Local Composite Index for the Virginia Preschool Initiative, for a total increase of $527.8 million in General Fund dollars over the biennium.  Consolidates all early childhood programs into one Early Childhood Care and Education section in the budget.  (Item 117 #5c; Item 124 #4c; Item 125 #21c, Item 125.10 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Reduces spending levels in the enrolled bill by $42.9 million in FY 2025 and $50.2 million in FY 2026.  Eliminates the 0.5000 cap on the Local Composite Index for the Virginia Preschool Initiative.  Reduces the number of additional Child Care Subsidy slots by 500 in FY 2026.  Explanatory language included with the Governor’s amendments indicates that the amendment also reduces estimated VPI participation rates.  Includes language requiring local plans for the Mixed Delivery Grant program to establish attendance requirements, parental workforce activity requirements, and parental co-pays.  Requires the Department of Education to establish attendance standards for the Virginia Preschool Initiative.  Includes language permitting reallocation of funds and slots between programs within each fiscal year after initial allocation based on actual parent demand. Modifies language in the enrolled bill directing study topics for the Early Childhood Care and Education Commission.  (Amendment 61)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains actions and spending levels in the enrolled bill, with the exception of a reduction of $35.1 million in FY 2025 and $35.9 million in FY 2026 resulting from use of historical nonparticipation rates in the Virginia Preschool Initiative.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Specifies that any unobligated ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund dollars as of June 30, 2024, are to be redistributed, with up to $170 million to be used to offset General Fund support for the Child Care Subsidy Program. Requires school boards to obligate any ARPA-funded ventilation improvement grants by July 1, 2024.  (Item 472 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Revises provisions such that the first $3 million of unobligated funds that are returned are redirected to the Virginia Tourism Authority; the next $169.9 million would be redirected to the Child Care Subsidy Program.  Retains language requiring school boards to obligate ventilation improvement grants by July 1, 2024.  (Amendment 188)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Revises provisions such that the first $3 million of unobligated funds that are returned are redirected to the Virginia Tourism Authority; the next $169.9 million would be redirected to the Child Care Subsidy Program.  Retains language requiring school boards to obligate ventilation improvement grants by July 1, 2024.

Aid to Local Public Libraries

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides an additional $2.5 million per year to increase state aid to local public libraries. (Item 227 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Reduces the additional funding in the enrolled bill by $1.25 million per year.  (Amendment 101)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains funding levels from enrolled bill.

Finance – Bank Franchise Tax Electronic Filing System

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $546,540 in FY 2024 (Item 274 #1c in the caboose), $488,494 in FY 2025, and $76,348 in FY 2026 for the Department of Taxation to implement electronic filing for bank franchise tax returns, as required by legislation passed in 2023 (Item 258 #3c).
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

Finance:  Local Audits

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs the Auditor of Public Accounts to include review of use of opioid settlement funds and compliance with Opioid Abatement Authority guidelines, procedures, and criteria as part of annual local audit specifications for local auditors. (Item 2 #1c in the caboose; Item 2 #2c in biennium)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates current language requiring each locality establishing a utility or enacting a system of service charges to support a local stormwater management program to report to the Auditor of Public Accounts annually on each program funded by the fees and the expected nutrient and sediment reductions for each program. (Item 2 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill NOTE:  The May 13 budget removes this language from the Auditor of Public Accounts section of the budget, but similar language remains in another section of the budget.  VACo is seeking clarification on legislative intent.  

HHR:  Children’s Services Act

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Maintains funding in the introduced budget for the Children’s Services Act forecast ($48.5 million per year), as well as $1.2 million per year in anticipated costs of services provided to children served through the kinship care and parental agreement program established in 2024 legislation.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

HHR:  Health

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains provisions in the introduced budget exempting the Office of Emergency Medical Services from making an otherwise required transfer of $12.5 million to the General Fund in FY 2024 or FY 2025.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Extends the Joint Subcommittee to Examine the Commonwealth’s Pandemic Response until December 1, 2024. (Item 6 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $405,260 per year to create a statewide registry of sickle cell disease patients in accordance with 2024 legislation (Item 277 #1c); provides $145,000 per year to increase access to pediatric treatment for sickle cell disease (Item 277 #2c); and provides $75,000 per year to increase access to treatment for adults with sickle cell disease, with this funding intended to allow expansion of services in the Tidewater area. (Item 277 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Includes $3.2 million per year to support Community Health Worker positions in local health districts, with priority to be given to districts serving localities with the highest rates of maternal mortality. (Item 278 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides an additional $171,120 per year for rent costs for increases in rent costs for local health departments. (Item 278 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides an additional $1.3 million per year for the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority to support the Area Health Education Center Programs and health workforce responsibilities of the Authority, pursuant to legislation passed by the 2024 General Assembly. (Item 279 #5c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates the additional $1.3 million per year.  (Amendment 115)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains funding level from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Includes $500,000 for the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to conduct a cost analysis of implementing pending federal Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) regulations for Virginia local water systems and pending federal Environmental Protection Agency Copper Rules for water system lead service lines. (Item 280 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs VDH to review the financial and operational status of each program area within the agency, to include budget, fiscal, procurement, human resources, and grant management functions, and directs a quarterly review of each program area to ensure that projected spending is in line with appropriations. (Item 283 #1c)  Also directs VDH to inventory all fees collected by the agency and report on whether the fee is sufficient to cover the costs of the activity for which it is collected and recommend an appropriate fee amount.  (Item 283 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Includes $303,650 in FY 2025 and $648,000 in FY 2026 for costs associated with establishing the Prescription Drug Affordability Board in accordance with legislation passed by the legislature this session. (Item 283.10 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates funding. (Amendment 110)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Eliminates funding (bill was vetoed).

HHR: Behavioral Health – Community Services Board (CSB) Oversight and Compensation

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Includes $7.5 million per year for CSB workforce initiatives, such as paid internships, scholarships, clinical supervision hours, or loan repayment. (Item 295 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Reduces the additional funding by $3.75 million per year. (Amendment 126)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains funding levels from the enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Requires the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to report annually on CSBs’ performance in improving consumer functioning levels. Directs DBHDS to identify documentation/reporting requirements and eliminate duplicative/conflicting ones.  Directs DBHDS to review performance measures in performance contracts with CSBs and ensure they are designed to measure outcomes for each service.  Stipulates that performance contracts shall also require that any funding appropriated by the General Assembly to CSBs for staff compensation shall only be used for staff compensation, and that CSBs report annually to DBHDS on any staff compensation actions taken during the prior fiscal year.  Directs DMAS to review the extent to which CSBs are billing for Medicaid-eligible services and determine if technical assistance is needed.  Directs DBHDS to report annually on salaries and vacancy rates across CSBs.  (Item 295 #9c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to report on plans to implement the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic model in the Commonwealth. (Item 267 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

HHR:  Behavioral Health – STEP-VA

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs DBHDS to report on changes to STEP-VA performance measures and benchmarks expected to be included in CSB performance contracts that will take effect July 1, 2025. (Item 295 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs DBHDS to conduct a needs assessment for each component of STEP-VA and estimate costs for meeting the unmet needs. (Item 295 #6c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $4.5 million each year in additional funding for STEP-VA to address inflation and other needs. (Item 297 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Reduces additional funding by $1.2 million per year (Amendment 133)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains funding levels from enrolled bill.

HHR – Behavioral Health – Crisis Services, Temporary Detention Orders, and State Facilities

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to report on how funds appropriated during the 2023 and 2024 sessions will be expended to expand and modernize the crisis services system. (Item 267 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates proposed $10 million in FY 2025 for comprehensive psychiatric emergency programs. (Item 295 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains the proposed $10 million in FY 2025 in the introduced budget for mobile crisis teams. Also retains the proposed $3.6 million in FY 2025 and $4.2 million in FY 2026 proposed for crisis co-responder programs.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains the proposed $4.7 million per year in the introduced budget to expand alternative transportation and custody to individuals under involuntary commitment orders and the introduced budget’s language combining funding for alternative transportation and alternative custody.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains the introduced budget’s proposed $2.6 million per year for crisis training for first responders and hospital personnel.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Reduces the $33 million proposed in the introduced budget for crisis services by $8 million in FY 2025 (retains the proposed $2.6 million in FY 2026); earmarks $2.3 million per year for the Prince William County Youth Crisis Receiving Center. (Item 296 #1c)  Provides an additional $2.5 million per year for CSBs to hire additional staff for crisis stabilization units with underutilized bed capacity.  (Item 297 #5c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Reduces the additional funding for CSB staffing by $500,000 per year; retains the other actions from the enrolled bill (Amendment 131)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains funding levels from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides an additional $6 million per year for discharge assistance planning to increase community capacity to serve individuals on the Extraordinary Barriers List. (Item 296 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Reduces the additional funding by $3 million per year (Amendment 129)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains funding levels from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains the provision in the introduced budget earmarking $1.5 million per year of the existing funding for alternative options to state hospital care for a pilot program to support the discharge of private hospital patients at risk of transfer to state hospitals, as well as provisions earmarking $5 million per year for alternative options for forensic patients.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains language in the introduced budget broadening the use of funds previously provided for dementia behavioral specialists to be used for geriatric behavioral specialists, as well as provisions in the caboose and biennium budgets broadening language associated with pilot programs for individuals with dementia who may otherwise be admitted to a state facility to allow this funding to be used for geriatric individuals.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains $7.9 million per year proposed in the introduced budget for salary increases for food and environmental services staff at state hospitals, as well as $10.4 million per year for clinical staff.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill. 

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains approximately $1.5 million over the biennium in the introduced budget for partnerships between academic institutions and state hospitals and $715,301 in FY 2025 for workforce development at state hospitals.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs DBHDS to identify and develop alternative placements for youth who would otherwise be admitted to the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents. This is a recommendation from JLARC’s 2023 study of state psychiatric hospitals.  (Item 301 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Restores $500,000 in FY 2025 for maintenance of the Central Virginia Training Center property (the introduced budget reduces funding by $1 million per year). (Item 304 #1c).  Allows the $6 million appropriated in FY 2024 as an incentive for the sale of the CVTC property to be carried forward and reappropriated (Item 113 #3c in the caboose); provides $200,000 in FY 2025 for a cost study of building a connector road from CVTC to Route 210.  (Item 444 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates the additional funding for the connector road cost study; authorizes VDOT to use up to $200,000 in non-General Funds for this purpose.  Retains other provisions.  (Amendment 182)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Eliminates the additional GF for the connector road cost study; authorizes VDOT to use up to $200,000 in Commonwealth Transportation Funds for this purpose.  Retains other provisions.

HHR – Additional Behavioral Health Items

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains additional $2.6 million per year for Early Intervention/Part C in the introduced budget.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides an additional $3 million per year for permanent supportive housing. (Item 297 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates the additional funding.  (Amendment 130)
  • May 13 approved budget: Maintains funding level from the enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Increases funding for children’s mental health services by $1.2 million per year and provides more flexibility in use of the funds. (Item 297 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides additional $1 million per year for the State Rental Assistance Program (which helps individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities to live independently in the community). (Item 297 #4c)
  • Governor’s amendment: Reduces new funding by $500,000 per year (Amendment 132)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains funding levels from the enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs $500,000 per year in state opioid settlement funding to the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth for a comprehensive youth opioid prevention effort (the introduced budget would have provided $4 million per year for DBHDS for this purpose). (Item 49 #5c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates this funding.  Instead provides $500,000 per year in settlement funding to DBHDS for programs to treat, prevent, or reduce opioid use disorder.  (Amendment 14, Amendment 128)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains provisions from the enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs the Secretary of Administration to conduct a needs assessment of implementing an opioid data analytics platform, to include a review of existing state software and data sets. If it is determined that such a platform is necessary and cost-effective, VITA and the Office of Data Governance and Analytics are authorized to pursue funding from the Opioid Abatement Authority.  (Item 79 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains language from the enrolled bill; adds additional provisions regarding a needs assessment and allocates $3 million in FY 2025 and $1 million in FY 2026 from state opioid settlement funding to procure a cloud-based data analytics platform.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains $1.1 million in FY 2025 and $210,000 in FY 2026 in the introduced budget for high-intensity inpatient services for youth and adolescents with serious mental illness or substance use disorder who may otherwise require inpatient hospitalization, as well as $400,000 in FY 2026 for clinical support to the Chesterfield Recovery Academy. Provides $1 million in FY 2025 and $500,000 in FY 2026 to support recovery high schools in Loudoun County and Virginia Beach.  (Item 124 #13c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains proposal in the introduced budget to allocate $5.5 million in state opioid settlement funding for the purchase and distribution of opioid reversal agents and test kits and for tracking software, and earmarks $1 million per year of these funds for the purchase and distribution of 8 milligram naloxone nasal spray; also retains the proposed $400,000 in state opioid settlement funding for VDH to conduct a one-year demonstration project for wastewater surveillance for fentanyl and norfentanyl in up to three geographically diverse localities. Provides $100,000 in opioid settlement funding in FY 2026 for VDH to purchase and distribute opioid reversal agent to local school divisions.  (Item 275 #2c)  Dedicates $8 million per year in state opioid settlement funding to establish a public-private partnership to manufacture opioid reversal nasal spray.  (Item 275 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides an additional $250,000 per year for grants to members of the Virginia Association of Recovery Residences; requires the Association to comply with agreements with DBHDS and authorizes DBHDS to initiate a bidding process to expand the buildout of recovery residences statewide. (Item 296 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Reduces the proposed expansion of the Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program by $750,000 per year (leaving an increase of $4.25 million per year); eliminates proposed language earmarking $1 million per year for school-based providers; restores language requiring a two-year commitment (rather than three years, as proposed in the introduced budget); adds child and adolescent psychiatry fellows to the list of eligible practitioners, as well as certain other behavioral health providers; and adds academic medical centers as an eligible practice site. (Item 271 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Further reduces funding by $750,000 per year (Amendment 105)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains funding levels from enrolled bill.

HHR – Medicaid

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Maintains the approximately $745 million over the biennium required to fund the Medicaid and children’s health insurance forecast. Provides approximately $484 million from the General Fund over the biennium for the Virginia Health Care Fund (which is used as part of the state’s Medicaid match) to offset revenue declines; captures $24.2 million in newly-recognized revenue from an increase to the tax on liquid nicotine in the enrolled budget.  (Item 288 #8c).  Sets aside $150 million in FY 2025 as contingency funding for higher-than-expected enrollment in Medicaid (Item 288 #13c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  Reduces contingency funding by $55 million (resulting in $95 million being set aside); reflects an additional $40 million in the caboose budget in Virginia Health Care Fund revenue; retains other provisions from the enrolled bills.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Phases in the additional Medicaid waiver slots proposed in the introduced budget on a quarterly basis, and provides a 3 percent rate increase in each year for certain developmental disability waiver services. (Item 288 #14c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Retains provisions in the enrolled budget.  Also provides 2 percent rate increases each year for agency- and consumer-directed personal care, respite, and companion services provided through the home- and community-based waivers and Early Periodic Screening, and Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program.  (Amendment 122)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains provisions in the enrolled budget; also provides 2 percent rate increases each year for agency- and consumer-directed personal care, respite and companion services in the home and community-based services waivers and Early Periodic Screening, and Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs DMAS to inventory all proposed changes to the state’s managed care contract to be included in the reprocurement, to include any fiscal impact, and report to the money committee chairs, among others, by June 1, 2024. (Item 304 #1c in the caboose).  Modifies language in the introduced budget setting out certain requirements for the reprocured managed care contracts to require legislative approval of certain initiatives.  (Item 288 #10c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Revises language imposing requirements on the reprocurement process (Amendment 117)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains provisions from enrolled caboose and biennium bills.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Adds language defining public entities that are able to transfer funds to DMAS to cover the non-federal share of Medicaid matching dollars for supplemental payments to private acute care hospitals; this definition includes local governments. (Item 288 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $1.9 million GF per year to allow local government-owned nursing facilities to draw down additional Medicaid payments. (Item 288 #17c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates the additional funding. (Amendment 121)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains funding level in enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Sets out the methodology for inflation adjustments for Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (Item 288 #18c).
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $206,889 GF in FY 2025 and $3.1 million GF in FY 2026 for DMAS to contract with a vendor to assist in timely and accurate Medicaid eligibility determinations and redeterminations (Item 292 #5c). Provides $500,000 GF in FY 2025 for a consultant to evaluate the Medicaid eligibility determination process in Virginia.  (Item 292 #7c)  Extends the deadline for the Department of Social Services to expend ARPA funds for redetermination efforts from 12 to 17 months following the end of the federal continuous coverage requirement (Item 486.10 #1c –caboose).
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates the $206,889 in FY 2025 and $3.1 million in FY 2026 for the contract for assistance with Medicaid eligibility determinations.  Retains the other provisions.  (Amendment 123)
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $2.1 million GF in FY 2025 and $4.1 million GF in FY 2026 for DMAS to contract with a vendor to handle incoming mail directed to local departments of social services, including Medicaid benefit applications and renewal notices. (Item 292 #6c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates the funding; directs DMAS and the Virginia Department of Social Services to study the current processes and make recommendations for best practices.  (Amendment 124)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains funding level from enrolled bill.

HHR – Social Services

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Clarifies that local administrative costs for the Percentage of Income Payment Program (PIPP) are to be reimbursed from the PIPP Fund; VACo worked with advocacy partners to request this clarification so that a local match would not be required for this program, which is funded by utility ratepayers (Item 340 #1c in the caboose and Item 324 #5c).
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $844, 524 GF in FY 2025 and $2.2 million GF in FY 2026 for a centralized training academy model for local departments of social services (Item 324 #2c).
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates funding (Amendment 136)
  • May 13 approved budget: Maintains funding level from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $3.5 million in FY 2025 and $350,000 in FY 2026 to replace CommonHelp and VaCMS (the state’s public-facing and internal systems used for benefits eligibility) (Item 334 #2c).
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains several actions in the introduced budget to address concerns about structural balance in the state’s Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant, including replacing $4 million in TANF dollars with a like amount from the general fund for long-acting reversable contraceptives in FY 2026; replacing $2.4 million per year in TANF dollars for Families Forward with a like amount from the general fund; replacing $1 million per year in TANF dollars for Resource Mothers with a like amount from the general fund; replacing $600,000 per year in TANF support for Early Impact Virginia with a like amount of General Fund support; replacing $9 million from TANF for Community Employment and Training programs with a like amount of General Fund support in FY 2026, and removing TANF support for three nonprofits (Family Restoration Services in Hampton, Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless, and Menchville House). The enrolled budget provides an additional $1.1 million in TANF funding for the Two-Generation/whole Family Pilot Project in FY 2026 (the introduced budget proposed to end the program after FY 2025) (Item 331 #8c).
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Adjusts funding provided in the introduced budget for kinship care initiatives based on the provisions of the legislation that passed in 2024 and provides an additional $1 million per year for relative maintenance payments, for a total of $8.5 million in FY 2025 and $8.4 million in FY 2026. (Item 324 #3c, Item 324 #4c, and Item 329 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains the $5.4 million over the biennium included in the introduced budget for administrative costs for the new permanent summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program for children.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains funding in the introduced budget to provide background checks for all local departments of social services employees, contractors, and candidates for employment so that the federal Income Eligibility Verification System can be used to determine Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program eligibility.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

Labor – Virginia Employment Commission (VEC)

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Revises language in the introduced budget directing the VEC to promulgate regulations to establish an administrative fee to instead set an administrative fee of .05 percent of taxable wages and reduce employer tax rates accordingly. (Item 356 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains provisions from enrolled bill; adds language authorizing a treasury loan for administrative functions and processes that cannot be covered due to declining federal funding until revenues from the administrative fee are sufficient to support these functions.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Authorizes a Treasury loan for the VEC for the start-up costs associated with the implementation of a paid family and medical leave program as contemplated in legislation that passed the General Assembly (but was subsequently vetoed). (Item 356 #4c) Directs the VEC to update its 2021 study on paid family and medical leave to assess the budgetary impacts of expanding benefits to state employees, Constitutional officers and their employees, and school division employees (Item 471 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

Labor – Workers Compensation

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Directs the Department of Human Resource Management to gather data from localities concerning Workers Compensation claims regarding post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder incurred by law-enforcement officers and firefighters (Item 74 #1c).
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

Natural and Historic Resources – Water Quality

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains $201 million deposit to the Water Quality Improvement Fund for nonpoint source pollution programs, including Agriculture BMPs and related technical assistance, in the introduced budget.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $200 million GF in FY 2025 and $200 million in bond proceeds in FY 2026 to advance mandated and other water treatment facility projects in support of the Virginia Watershed Implementation Plan (Phase III) and 2025 Chesapeake Bay TMDL goals. This funding was a top budget priority for VACo.  (Item C-53.50 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Reduces funding to $50 million per year (uses bond proceeds in both years rather than General Funds).  (Amendment 223)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains funding levels from the enrolled bill; uses bond proceeds in both years rather than General Funds; earmarks $400 million from surplus FY 2024 revenues (after any Constitutionally-mandated deposits and $175 million for I-81 are set aside) to offset bond authorizations.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Stipulates that any ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund dollars unobligated on June 30, 2024, and returned to the State and Local Recovery Fund, after the first $170 million (which is to be used to supplement Child Care Subsidy Funding), and any amounts returned from broadband deployment projects funded by the ARPA Capital Projects Fund, are to be used to offset the FY 2026 bond authorization for the Enhanced Nutrient Removal Credit Program. (Item 472 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Revises language to provide that the first $3 million of returned dollars are to be directed to the Virginia Tourism Authority; the next $169.9 million are to be used to supplement Child Care Subsidy Funding.  Eliminates language regarding redirecting unobligated broadband funding.  (Amendment 188)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Revises language to provide that the first $3 million in returned funding is to be directed to the Virginia Tourism Authority; the next $169.9 million is to be used to supplement funding for the Child Care Subsidy Program.  Any funding beyond these amounts is to be used to support the Enhanced Nutrient Removal Certainty program.  Eliminates language regarding unobligated broadband funding.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Allows flexibility in the use of ARPA funding for wastewater projects so that funds provided to individual facilities listed in the Enhanced Nutrient Removal Certainty Program may be used to reimburse such facilities for costs incurred for nutrient removal and other wastewater treatment facility improvements approved by the Department of Environmental Quality as within the allowed scope of wastewater infrastructure projects (Item 486 #3c – caboose).
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates language in the introduced budget which would have removed the requirement that 15 percent of mandatory Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF) deposits be directed to the WQIF Reserve if the balance of the Reserve exceeds $100.0 million. Conference report language would require the deposit to be made unless otherwise specified.  (Item 358 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Restores the $1 million per year proposed to be reduced in the introduced budget for the WQIF Reserve from watercraft fuel sales taxes. (Item 359 #14c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $20 million in FY 2025 for a pay-for-outcomes pilot program for nonpoint source pollution reduction in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. (Item 365 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Reduces funding by $15 million (Amendment 151)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains funding levels from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $380,160 per year for PFAS monitoring and reporting. (Item 363 #4c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

Natural and Historic Resources – Other Items

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains $100 million in FY 2025 in the introduced budget for the Community Flood Preparedness Fund.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates the additional $25 million in FY 2025 for the Resilient Virginia Revolving Loan Fund proposed in the introduced budget. (Item 359 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $750,000 per year to establish a mitigation trading platform and wetland in-lieu fee mitigation program. (Item 363 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates this funding (Amendment 149)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains funding levels from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $10 million in FY 2025 to establish the Virginia Clean Energy Innovation Bank to finance climate initiatives. (Item 471 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates this funding (Amendment 187)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains funding level from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Reduces proposed support for the Coastal Storm Risk Management Project in the City of Norfolk by $48.9 million (leaving a balance of $25 million to support the project). Captures $8.5 million in FY 2025 from the proposed Bristol landfill remediation project (leaving $26.5 million).  (Item 359 #6c and Item 365 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Requires the Commonwealth to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). (Item 381 #1c – (caboose) and Item 366 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates language requiring RGGI participation (Amendment 5 in the caboose; Amendment 152)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Eliminates language requiring RGGI participation.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Reduces proposed grant program for capital improvements at historic sites for the semiquincentennial celebration by $15 million (leaving $20 million for the program). (Item 371 #14c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill

Transportation – Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $65 million in FY 2025 and $84.5 million in FY 2026 for WMATA; suspends the statutory cap on growth in the annual Virginia operating assistance for WMATA; directs WMATA to complete a comparison of its total costs and overhead costs against the cost of similar transit systems. (Item 433 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates the new funding in FY 2025; provides $35.7 million in FY 2026 instead of $84.5 million and redirects $98 million provided to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission in FY 2022.  Suspends the statutory cap on growth in the annual Virginia operating assistance; requires WMATA to engage a consulting firm and receive approval of a financially sustainable business plan from the money committee chairs and the Governor.   (Amendment 179)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains language from enrolled bill; slightly reduces funding level (provides $60.2 million in FY 2025 and $84.5 million in FY 2026).

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $25,000 in FY 2025 for a legislative joint subcommittee to study long-term, sustainable, dedicated funding and cost-containment controls and strategies to ensure WMATA and other Northern Virginia transit systems meet the growing needs of public transit in the region. (Item 1 #6c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill. 

Transportation – I-81

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Modifies language in the introduced budget related to the $70 million GF proposed for the I-81 Corridor Improvement program to allow for the widening of both the northbound and southbound lanes to happen concurrently. (Item 438 #4c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Allows projects in the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program to move forward even if all of the funding is not included for the completion of the project in the six-year improvement plan. (Item 438 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget: No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Earmarks up to an additional $175 million from revenue surpluses in FY 2024, FY 2025, and FY 2026 for the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program (after deposits to the Rainy Day Fund and Water Quality Improvement Fund). (Item 470 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

Transportation – Other Items

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Authorizes the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation District Commission to enter into contracts and agreements with adjacent localities and planning districts to promote commuter transit services within the region. (Item 433 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates proposed $20 million GF deposit into the Transportation Partnership Opportunity Fund (TPOF) in FY 2025. (Item 438 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Revises proposed deposit of at least $200 million to TPOF in the next Six-Year Financial Plan to direct instead up to $90 million to be provided, with no more than $15 million in any individual year, and requiring approval from the Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission for use of TPOF in excess of $20 million for any one project or $50 million in cumulative use over the biennium. (Item 438 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget: No change to enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $77 million in FY 2025 and $24 million in FY 2026 from the general fund for additional toll relief to eligible drivers in certain localities who earn less than $50,000 per year. (Item 441 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Reduces funding by $34 million over the biennium (Amendment 181)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains funding levels in enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Provides $7.5 million in FY 2025 for certain municipal dredging projects and modifies language specifying eligibility for funding from the Virginia Waterway Maintenance Fund. (Item 451 #2c and Item 451 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Reduces funding by $4 million in FY 2025 (Amendment 183)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Maintains funding levels in enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains $350,000 included in the introduced budget to study the implementation of emerging technologies in aviation, and provides $1 million from the Commonwealth’s Development Opportunity Fund in FY 2025 to support an Advanced Air Aviation Test Site. (Item 422 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

Arena

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Removes language in the introduced caboose bill creating the Virginia Sports and Entertainment Authority. (Item 4-14 #1c in the caboose)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates proposed $500,000 in FY 2025 for developing relevant capabilities, conducting planning, and evaluating potential economic incentives for attracting sports teams to the state. (Item 471 #9c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

Tax policy

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Clarifies that the Virginia Housing Opportunity Tax Credit expires at the end of 2025. (Item 3-5.14 #1c in the caboose and Item 3-5.13 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates proposal to double the dealer discount for merchants collecting and remitting sales and use taxes. (Item 3-5.06 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Increases the individual taxpayer cap on the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit from $5 million to $7.5 million. (Item 3-5.17 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Increases the tobacco products tax on liquid nicotine from $0.066 per milliliter to $0.11 per milliliter and incorporates language defining certain heated tobacco products as cigarettes to parallel legislation passed this session. (Item 3-5.19 #1c)  Also provides $403,000 in FY 2025 and $297,000 in FY 2026 for the Department of Taxation to implement the heated tobacco products legislation.  (Item 258 #5c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Restores the per-taxpayer cap of $20,000 for the Land Preservation Tax Credit. (Item 3-5.22 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Extends the sunset date for the sales and use tax exemption for certain equipment used for the extraction and processing of natural gas or oil until July 1, 2025. (Item 3-5.22 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains language extending provisions of 2019 legislation increasing Education Improvement Scholarship amounts for certain students and broadening the definition of disability to January 1, 2028.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates proposal to increase the cap on the Education Improvement Scholarship Tax Credit from $25 to $30 million. (Item 4-14 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Retains language stating that in any pending or future administrative or judicial proceeding in which the validity of a tax assessment is an issue, the participation of the Department of Taxation is to be considered a collection effort; also retains language stipulating that this provision is declarative of existing law.
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates proposed reduction to income tax rates. (Item 4-14 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates proposed increase to sales tax rate. (Item 4-14 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change from enrolled bill.
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Revises the proposed sales tax base expansion to digital goods and services to include certain business-to-business transactions and to stipulate the tax treatment of bundled transactions. Amends the Communications Sales and Use Tax statute to address bundled transactions as well.  (Item 4-14 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Eliminates sales tax base expansion.  (Amendment 233)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Eliminates sales tax base expansion.  Directs the Joint Subcommittee on Tax Policy to explore efforts to modernize the Commonwealth’s income and sales and use taxes during the 2024 interim, to include evaluating existing sales and use tax exemptions; applying sales and use tax to digital goods and services, including transactions involving businesses; and evaluating efforts to increase the progressivity of the income tax, as well as long-term revenue growth to maintain core government services.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Eliminates proposed increase to the Earned Income Tax Credit. (Item 4-14 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: No change to enrolled bill
  • May 13 approved budget:  No change to enrolled bill.

Additional tax policy items in May 13 budget that were not included in March enrolled budget or Governor’s April amendments

• Clarifies that “sales tax revenues” to which certain public facilities located in certain specified localities are entitled under Va. Code § 58.1-608.3 means the revenue generated by the 2.025 percent unrestricted sales and use tax.
• Establishes a legislative workgroup to review the rate and distribution of pari-mutuel pools generated by wagering on historic horse racing at satellite facilities; directs the workgroup to assess trends in pari-mutuel pools generated by historic horse racing wagering at satellite facilities, including the corresponding distribution of revenues to localities, and make recommendations regarding future distributions of such revenues.

Reserves

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Transfers the same total amount of funds from the Revenue Reserve Fund over the biennium, but divides the withdrawal more evenly between the two years (the conference report provides for a withdrawal of $405 million in FY 2025 and $400 million in FY 2026; the introduced budget proposes to transfer $712.2 million in FY 2025 and $92.8 million in FY 2026). The conference report increases the combined limit on balances in the state’s reserves from 15 percent (as in statute) to 16.5 percent in FY 2025 and 15.5 percent in FY 2026.  (Item 3-1.01 #4c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Adjusts the transfer such that $129.4 million would be transferred in FY 2025 and $675.7 million would be transferred in FY 2026; eliminates language increasing the limit on balances.  (Amendment 226)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Adjusts the transfer such that $129.4 million would be transferred in FY 2025 and $675.7 million would be transferred in FY 2026; revises language to set the combined limit on balances at 20 percent.

Establishment of Independent Agencies

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Establishes the Department of General Services as an independent agency. (Item 68 #1c, Item 69 #1c, Item 70 #2c, Item 71 #1c, Item 72 #1c, Item 73 #1c and Item 474.30 #1c, Item 474.70 #1, Item 474.50 #1c, Item 474.60 #1c, Item 474.70 #1c, Item 474.80 #1c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Reverses this action (Amendments 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Reverses this action.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Establishes the Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority as an independent agency. (Item 380 #1c, Item 381 #1c, and Item 489.10 #1c, Item 489.10 #2c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Reverses this action (Amendments 157, 158, 190, 191)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Retains provisions from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Establishes the Opioid Abatement Authority as an independent agency. (Item 489.10 #4c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Reverses this action (Amendments 142, 193)
  • May 13 approved budget: Retains provisions from enrolled bill.

• As passed by the General Assembly in March (enrolled bill): Establishes the Cannabis Control Authority as an independent agency. (Item 382 #1c and Item 489.10 #3c)
  • Governor’s April amendments: Reduces funding levels to reflect veto of legislation that would allow for retail sales; maintains creation of Authority as independent agency.  (Amendment 192)
  • May 13 approved budget:  Adjusts funding levels to reflect veto of legislation that would allow for retail sales; maintains creation of Authority as independent agency.

VACo Contact: VACo Legislative Team